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Falklands Conservation |
Beef Island (10 Ha, 25 acres)
Beef Island is one of a group of six islands off the coast of New Island which were gifted to Falklands Conservation by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
This is a small island lying at the entrance to South Harbour, New Island South. It is dome shaped and rising to over 150 feet - the NW and SW aspects gradually sloping away to a coastline of low rock shelves. On the SE side the tussac covered slopes fall away more steeply, the shoreline being made up of almost sheer rock face. At the NE end an area of heath and grass extends from the inside perimeter of the coastal stand of tussac to the top of the Island. The heath and grass formation covers about one eighth of the Island, the remainder being covered with fairly dense cover of tussac of low to medium height. The Island has been stocked with cattle and a small number of sheep, but not since 1972.
Sea lions are commonly recorded but are not known to breed. The Island is an important breeding site for Falkland Skua, Rock and King Shag, Thin-billed Prion and Night Heron. Tussac bird, Cobb's Wren, Falkland Thrush and Black-throated Finch are common and recorded as breeding. Other birds recorded here include Upland Goose, Kelp Goose, Falkland Flightless Steamer Duck, and Striated Caracara (Johnny Rook).
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Patron: HRH The Duke of York CVO ADC Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature | BirdLife International Representative |